The Toyota bZ4X Is Flopping for More Reasons Than Just Its Name
The Toyota bZ4X has been around for a few years now. However, the SUV has yet to catch on with buyers, and there isn’t a ton of conversation surrounding it. This lack of popularity could be for a few reasons, but many feel it’s because it’s not one of the best small SUVs. Sure, this all-electric Toyota SUV is fine, but it’s outclassed by many of its less expensive rivals.
The 2024 Toyota bZ4X isn’t among the best small SUVs for reliability
It’s common for brand-new vehicles to have flaws. This is the case even when they come from powerhouses like Toyota. However, the 2024 Toyota bZ4X continues the vehicle’s short trend of not having the best reliability ratings. J.D. Power gave the compact crossover SUV only a 64 out of 100, which the marketing research firm considers ‘fair.’ This makes the bZ4X below average.
Besides reliably, the Toyota bZ4X doesn’t really do well in any area besides resale value. It has an 82 out of 100 in this area. Overall, this Toyota SUV has a 73 out of 100, which is only average. However, buyers should note that, besides a recall, most of the issues owners currently have are unrelated to reliability or maintenance problems.
The bZ4X has flaws
No vehicle is perfect, and this will always be the case. However, the Toyota bZ4X isn’t one of the best small SUVs in most regards. People have complained about the SUV’s range since it hit the market. Regarding the 2024 Toyota bZ4X, the automaker claims the range is between 222 and 252 miles. However, some real-world tests show that the dual-motor version gets about 160 miles on a charge.
This is a pretty appalling range for an EV from a mainstream automaker. In fact, it’s considered one of the worst on the market in this all-important area.
Charging has also been a reported problem for the Toyota bZ4X since it entered the market. This is already an area of EV ownership that requires planning, so most drivers don’t want the process to take even longer. However, Toyota claims a level two charger can charge the bZ4X in about 9 hours.
Regarding sales, the bZ4X sold 9,329 units in 2023. So far, the SUV has sold 1,070 units in 2024. However, it should be noted that there has been limited production for the vehicle. Still, the bZ4X isn’t a vehicle that’s causing a stir on the market, and it seems Toyota has some substantial improvements to make.
